Cong to launch panchayat-level protests over VB-G RAM G Act

The Congress on Sunday announced a nationwide protest programme against the Centre’s recent changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), including its renaming as the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G Act).

The agitation will begin with direct mobilisation at the panchayat level before escalating to coordinated demonstrations, gheraos and rallies in state capitals.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said the party held “a comprehensive online review meeting with PCC presidents, general secretaries/in-charges and members of the MGNREGA Coordination Committee to review the progress of the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram across the country”. He said that the review highlighted the “expanding reach and success” of the campaign in several states.

According to Venugopal, the party has decided to “intensify panchayat-level outreach, directly engaging the general public, MGNREGA workers and other stakeholders”. This will be followed by “ward-level peaceful sit-ins and subsequently Vidhan Sabha/Lok Bhavan gheraos and zonal rallies, in a planned and sustained manner”.

He also announced that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi would attend a MGNREGA Chaupal in Rae Bareli on January 20 “to reaffirm our commitment to the rights and dignity of rural workers”.

Meanwhile, the All India Congress Committee issued a letter, signed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, warning that “Your Right to Work is being stolen”. The letter alleged that work would no longer remain a legal guarantee, wages would be fixed “arbitrarily with no guaranteed yearly revisions”, and that the powers of Gram Panchayats would be transferred to contractors. It also claimed that states would now be required to pay “40 per cent of your wages”.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also said that a protest would be organised on January 27, with Congress workers blocking either the BJP office or the Raj Bhavan. He added that a special Assembly session had been called to discuss the issue.